Jurgen Klopp Says Extreme Wind Has Forced Change to His Liverpool Philosophy

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted the "extreme" conditions in England have forced him to alter his football philosophy, expanding upon the difference between the Premier League and Germany's Bundesliga.

Speaking to German newspaper Bild, the Reds boss suggested players not native to the United Kingdom can struggle adapting to the weather, and his tactics have changed as a result (h/t Goal's Stefan Coerts):

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The English game is not faster than the German game. Perhaps there are a few more sprints. But there is a different style of football here, partially due to the weather.

The wind can be quite extreme in England. We are not familiar with that in Germany and you have to keep things simple. Stoke City's first goal against Manchester United was a perfect example of the extreme winds. Players who are not from the UK have to get used to the winds.

I have to adapt my style of football as a result as well. Often, you are forced to keep things simple. And there are a lot more duels for the second ball here, and more duels in general. That makes the game even more intense.

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Klopp's October appointment at Liverpool represented his first experience managing a club outside his native Germany and is only the third coaching position he's held in a 14-year career.

The 48-year-old noted it's not only the conditions that are different in the Premier League, either, hinting referees are more liable to let the game flow rather than blow up for a foul: "English referees are not like their German colleagues. Of course, you will not get away with brutal fouls, but the duels are more intense here. Duels that would have resulted in a foul in Germany are often OK here."

Jon Super/Associated Press

The early signs suggested Klopp was having a positive impact at the club following Brendan Rodgers' departure from the helm, and the Reds were beaten just once in his first six Premier League games.

In particular, Klopp demanded—or at least produced—a more energetic response from his men, as pointed out by OptaJoe earlier this month:

It's been a mixed bag of results for Klopp since arriving at Anfield two months ago, gaining a strong foothold in England to begin with before experiencing a recent slump and going four games without a win.

But spirits were most recently buoyed by the Reds' 1-0 victory over then-Premier League leaders Leicester City, inflicting the Foxes' first Premier League defeat since they lost to Arsenal in September.

That triumph wasn't the only win worth savouring, either, as highlighted by ESPN's Alex Shaw:

There is a direct contrast to the dying embers of Rodgers' reign, when goals proved hard to come by, leaving the Anfield supporters to demand more fervour from their side.

Klopp is still having to make do with a squad that was assembled by his predecessor, and despite claims of the wind being a drastic change, many would agree the German is coping well in England.

Adaptation is one key trait for any manager to possess in the ever-changing scene of modern football, and Klopp's willingness to change is likely to only bear fruit for him and his men in the future.